Meet the Text Feature Creatures!
Teaching the text features is very important in all grades. Many times children will be able to recognize the various features, but don’t really understand how they are helpful to the reader. I have created The Text Feature Creatures to help your students learn the names and purposes of the text features.
You can start with singing the poem "Text Features" to the tune of "On Top of Ole Smokey." (See Below)
I have included the poems for each text feature creature. You can download these as mini posters (below) to use in your lessons. There is also a mini booklet of these poems along with an illustration of each creature. Have the students cut out each page, stack them on top of one another with the cover of the creatures on top, and the poem (sung to the song On Top of Old Smokey) as the second page. Staple all of the pages together to create a mini booklet. On the back of each page, the students can find examples of each text feature from newspapers and magazines. They cut out each example and glue them on the back of each page. Click here to download the MINI BOOKLET.
You can start with singing the poem "Text Features" to the tune of "On Top of Ole Smokey." (See Below)
I have included the poems for each text feature creature. You can download these as mini posters (below) to use in your lessons. There is also a mini booklet of these poems along with an illustration of each creature. Have the students cut out each page, stack them on top of one another with the cover of the creatures on top, and the poem (sung to the song On Top of Old Smokey) as the second page. Staple all of the pages together to create a mini booklet. On the back of each page, the students can find examples of each text feature from newspapers and magazines. They cut out each example and glue them on the back of each page. Click here to download the MINI BOOKLET.
Text Features
(Sung to the tune of “On Top of ole Smokey”)
Oh thank you text features
You’re helpful to us
We find information
With such little fuss.
With titles and headings
And words that stand out
And photos with captions
Telling what it’s about.
The table of contents
Is like a road map
It shows where the chapters
And that is all that
There are so many features
That help us to read
So use all these creatures
They’re just what you need.
-Beth Knoedelseder
(Sung to the tune of “On Top of ole Smokey”)
Oh thank you text features
You’re helpful to us
We find information
With such little fuss.
With titles and headings
And words that stand out
And photos with captions
Telling what it’s about.
The table of contents
Is like a road map
It shows where the chapters
And that is all that
There are so many features
That help us to read
So use all these creatures
They’re just what you need.
-Beth Knoedelseder
Click on each image to download the mini posters for each Text Feature.

Diagram Duke & Levi Label
Diagram Duke and Levi Label make a great team.
Helping you to understand is their biggest dream.
Labels stick on diagrams as strong as tape and glue.
Diagrams show the parts of things
That may be new to you.
Diagram Duke and Levi Label make a great team.
Helping you to understand is their biggest dream.
Labels stick on diagrams as strong as tape and glue.
Diagrams show the parts of things
That may be new to you.

Gladys Glossary
Gladys Glossary is a text feature friend.
She defines important words
Located near the book's end.
Gladys Glossary is a text feature friend.
She defines important words
Located near the book's end.

Wordle Birds
The Wordle Birds are helpful to know
They work as a trio and are able to show
The most important words throughout
the whole book.
They are Italics, Colored, and Bold,
Just take a close look.
The Wordle Birds are helpful to know
They work as a trio and are able to show
The most important words throughout
the whole book.
They are Italics, Colored, and Bold,
Just take a close look.

Prunella Pictures & Captain Captions
Prunella Pictures & Captain Captions
Are best friends forever.
Captions explain what's in the picture
As a team they work together.
Prunella Pictures & Captain Captions
Are best friends forever.
Captions explain what's in the picture
As a team they work together.

Titus Title
Titus Title rules all of the creatures
He's one of the mightiest text features.
He states the main topic you're about to read.
Preview him first, and then proceed.
Titus Title rules all of the creatures
He's one of the mightiest text features.
He states the main topic you're about to read.
Preview him first, and then proceed.

Idgy Index
Idgy Index helps you find information fast
Flip to the lists on the page
That's mostly likely last.
Idgy Index helps you find information fast
Flip to the lists on the page
That's mostly likely last.

Henrietta Heading
Henrietta Heading stands out in a crowd.
The main topic of a section
Is what she screams out loud.
Henrietta Heading stands out in a crowd.
The main topic of a section
Is what she screams out loud.

Talula Table of Contents
Talula Table of Contents lists the topics
in the text
She helps you locate chapters of what's before
and what comes next.
Talula Table of Contents lists the topics
in the text
She helps you locate chapters of what's before
and what comes next.